Apparatus for admixing strip tobaccos



March'l?, 1964 s, L, MORTLAND 3,125,231"

APPARATUS FOR ADMIXING STRIP TOBACCOS S. L. MORTLAND March 17, 1964APPARATUS FOR ADMIXING STRIP TOBACCOS Filed June 1, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet2 Mawh 17, 1954 5.1.. MoRTLAND APPARATUS Foa ADMIXING STRIP ToBAccos 7Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1961 March 17, 1964 s, Mom-LAND 3,125,231

APPARATUS FOR ADMIXING STRIP ToBAccos Filed June l, 1961 '7 Sheets-Sheet4 Ti L.j l 1 i 20w I l |//5 Y l l /r33 |fl l I s l I 'I u March 17, 1964s. MORTLAND APPARATUS FoR ADMIXING STRIP ToBAccos 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledJune l, 1961 JUMP AMHA ""'I lm AAA March 17, 1964 s. L. MoRTLANDAPPARATUS FOR ADMIXING STRIP ToBAccos 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June l,1961 HlFIhILI Il. A

March 17, 1964 s. L.. Mom-LAND 3,125,231

APPARATUS FOR ADMIXING STRIP TOBACCOS Filed June l. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet7 United States Patent O 3,125,231 APPARATUS FOR ADMKING STRIP TOBACCOSSheldon L. Mortland, Durham, N.C., assigner, by direct and mesneassignments, to AMF Gverseas Corporation SA., Geneva, Switzerland, aSwiss company Filed .Iune 1, 1961, Ser. No. 114,196 3 Claims. (Cl.214-17) This invention relates to an apparatus for admixing striptobaccos of different types and grades in large quantities and moreparticularly it relates to an apparatus which is useful for preparingthe blends ofthe many types and grades of strip toblacoos typically usedin the manufacture of cigarettes, while minimizing mechanical abrasionof the tobaccos and the production of ine particles.

In the manufacture of cigarettes it is the usual practice to use blendsof dilierent types and grades of tobacco to obtain an optimumcombination of taste, aroma, burning properties, etc, in the iinalproduct. It is, in fact, not unusual to have as many as 30` to 50different types or grades of tobacco in a cigarette blend. Once thecornposition of the blend has been established, the manu facturer is, ofcourse, ldesirous of insuring Ithat all of the component tobaccos usedare intimately mixed so that every cigarette will ideally contain all ofthe component tobaccos with each in its proper proportion.

The several grades and types of tobacco used in preparing the inal blendusually arrive at the manufacturing plant in the form of hogshe-ads ofstrip tobacco (i.e., tobacco leaves from which the central stern hasbeen removed, leaving the tobacco in large, irregular pieces). Each ofthese tobaccos must be removed from the hogshead and admixed with theother tobaccos to produce a uniform biend before the blend is cut toproduce the 'finely divided form used in cigarettes.

In view of the productive capacity of modern cigarette-making plants, itis obvious that the batch size of blends of strip tobaccos must besubstantial, for example, 40,000 pounds per batch, in order to minimizeproduction expenses.

The diieulties involved in lblending a non-granular material, such asstrip tobacco, in lots containing many thousands of pounds to achieve auniform blend while at the same time avoiding attrition of the tobaccoleaves or the production of undesirable lines of tobacco are formidableones. In the past, such large scale blending has not been used. Prior`methods involved feeding tobacco by means of manual labor from each ofthe many hog heads required in appropriate amounts into a relativelysmall blender operating continuously.V These procedures, of course,entailed problems of maintaining constant fiow rates for each of themany tobaccos used in the blend and resulted in undesirable variationsin the final blend.

In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus suitablefor blending any desired number of different grades or types of tobaccoin commercial size lots on the order of 40,000 pounds `or-more withoutthe `production of objectionable tobacco rines. Briey, the apparatus ofthe invention provides means for spreading .consecutively each of thetobaccos to be used in a relatively thin, uniform, horizontal layer withone layer on `top of another, producing Vthereby an elongated,multilayered mass of tobacco, and .means for dislodging from ,theelongated mass relatively thin, vertical sections of `tobaccoprogressively from one end of the mass while simultaneously mixing thetobaccos in these dislodged sections.

The apparatus of 4the invention will be better understood from thefollowing detailed description thereof,

Ataken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

ice

in which the same numerals are used to indicate like elements in thesever-al views and in which:

FIGURE l is a side View of the apparatus of the invention showing thegeneral arrangement of the equipment including the means for feedingtobacco from hogsheads and the means for dislodging the tobacco from theelongated mass formed;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of the discharge end (i.e., right end)of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 showing the dislodging and dischargingmeans of the inventron;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the discharge end of the apparatus shown inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a pantial sectional View along the line 4-4 of FIGUR-E 2showing the movable belt used to advance the tobacco mass into thedischarge means (doffers);

FIGURE 5 is a partial enlarged side view of the lower discharge doiers;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of several of the `discharge doifersshowing the spiral positioning of the finger-like elements on thedoffers';

FIGURE 7 is a perspective of a portion of one of the discharge dolersshowing the positioning of lfinger-like projections thereon;

FIGURE 8 is a side view of the discharge doffers showing the drive meansused to rotate the dolers;

`FIGURE 9 is a detail of a portion of the discharge curtain used toprevent displacement of the mass of tobacco near the discharge end;

FIGURE l0 is a partial section along the line lil-10 of FIGURE ll,showing the means for supporting and driving the shuttle car used tofeed the tobacco in horizontal layers;

yFIGURE 11 is a fragmentary top View of the shuttle car;

FIGURE 12 is a side View of the shuttle car shown in FIGURE 11;-

FIGURE 13 is a detail 'of the means for shock mounting the belt used inthe'shuttle car of FIGURES l1 and l2; and

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view along the line `14-14 of FIGURE 13.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE l shows in general the apparatus ofthe invention. IIn this figure there is depicted at 10' a tobacco feedercomprising an elevator platform 11 on which there is positioned ahogshead of tobacco 12 with the wooden staves of the hogs` `headremoved, the tobacco continuing to maintain the shape it had attainedWhile in the hogshead. As the elevator is raised the tobacco is causedto bear against a number of rotating dofiers 15 or any suitableequivalents thereof which cause the tobacco to be discharged onto movinginspection belt 13 which, in turn, discharges the loose tobacco ontoloading elevator 114 comprising a moving belt equipped with short pinswhich hold the loose tobacco leaves while they are transported up theelevator. Kickback doffers .16 rotating in a clockwise direction controlthe passage of tobacco on elevator 14 at a uniform rate, any excesstobacco being dislodged in a direction toward the foot of the elevator.The tobacco discharges from the upper end of the elevator 1=4 onto aconveyor 17 which transfers -it to apoint in the middle of the bin ormain bul 18 in which fthe tobacco is accumulated. Main bulk 418 is alarge, box-'like structure with an open `top and smooth sides 20,typically formed of plywood held in place by a suitable framework 25.The Ybottom' surface consists almost entirely of an endless conveyor 21which is stationary while the tobacco isrbeind loaded. In FIGURE 1,portions of the sidewalls 2% and framework 25 of the bulk 18 have beenbroken away in order to show the interior arrangement. Discharging fromthe exit end of conveyor 17, the tobacco falls on a reciprocable shuttlecar 19 which 1s mounted above the open main bulk 18 and which, in amanner to be described in more detail below, drops the tobacco ontoconveyor 21 in uniform, horizontal layers throughout the length thereof.

' The various types and grades of tobacco required for the blend areloaded into the main bulk 18 in horizontal layers, one on top of theother, each layer being essentially uniform in thickness through litsextent, until there 1s produced an elongated mass of tobacco 22comprising a plural-ity of horizontal layers of tobacco. The severallayers of tobacco, however, are not all necessarily equal in thickness,since the relative proportions of each type of tobacco are notnecessarily the same.

As an indication of the size of the apparatus, it will be understoodthat for a commercial bath of tobacco comprising approximately40,000-50,000 pounds, a typical main bulk might be about 45-50 feet longand about 7-8 feet wide, with the tobacco being loaded therein to adepth of :about -6 ft.

The discharge (right) end of bulk 18 is provided With a number ofrotatable discharge doffers 30 arranged generally vertically, one abovethe other, as shown in FIG- URES 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Each doffer consistsof a rotatable shaft 31 provided at regular intervals along its lengthrwith a number of blunt projections or iingers 32 extending fromdiametrically opposed sides of shaft 31. Adjacent fingers are displacedcircumferentially about the shaft 31 so that the ends of the ngersdescribe a spiral path about the shaft. In the embodiment shown in theiigures, each doffer contains about 21 tingers each of which isangularly displaced from the preceding one. In this way the ends of theiingers traverse a path of 180 around the shaft. It Will also be seen(FIGURE 6) that the .fingers in adjacent dolfers are arranged so thatthe projection of the clearance distance between corresponding iin-gerson adjacent doffers -is essentially constant. Each of the doffer shafts31 is held in a suitable bearing (e.g., 33) and the ends thereof areprovided fwith sprockets, e.g. 36, which by means of suitable chains 37(FIGURE 8) drive all the doffers in the same direction (clockwise inFIGURE 8). Power for operating the system `of doi-fers is obtainedthrough sprocket 35 and chain 38 from motor 39 (FIGURE 2). The spacingbetween the shafts of adjacent discharge doffers is such that the tipsof the fingers would just meet were the adjacent doffers notrotationally displaced so as to provide clearance. In other words, whenviewed from the side, as in FIGURE 5, the circles described by the endsof the lingers in adjacent doifers would be approximately tangent toeach other.

-It will also be seen in FIGURE 5 that the lowermost doler 30a issomewhat laterally displaced so that it is not in a vertical line withthe remaining doifers. This arrangement is desirable in order to permitlowering the shaft of doifer 30a to about the level of main bulkconveyor 21. Thus the lowermost -layer of tobacco on conveyor 21, whichhas a tendency to droop as it leaves the end of the conveyor cannotby-pass the doier 30a and thus avoid being mixed with the remainingtobacco.

'Ihe main bulk conveyor 21 comprises in the embodiment shown la seriesof transverse Wooden slats 41 joined together by links 42 on the undersurface (FIGURE 4) and equipped with Wheels 43 which roll on tracks 44(FIGURE 9) running the length of bulk 18. The main bulk conveyor isdriven by motor 46 through the system of chains and sprockets 47, 48,49, and 51 (FIGURE 2).

'I'he shuttle car 19 used to deposite the loose tobacco in uniform, thinlayers in main bulk 18 comprises (see FIGURES l1 and 12) a frame 61provided with wheels, e.g., 62, rolling on track 463 which is mountedalong the sides of main -bulk 18. Stretched ar-ound pulleys 64 and 66 ateach end of the car is a belt 67 which has one transverse sectionthereof iixed with respect to main bulk 18 on which the shuttle carrides. This fixed section comprises a ap 68 composed of the ends of thebelt rwhioh are clamped between angles 69 which in turn are resilientlymounted to the wall 20 of the main bulk 18 by means of coil springs 714and mounting plates 72 (FIGURE 13). Along the length of the shuttle carand on both sides thereof run ilexible chain link belts 73 which passunder idler wheels 74 and are driven by sprockets '76 which in turn aredriven by sprockets from any convenient power source (not shown). Theposition of sprockets 76 relative to the top of the main bulk 18 is iXedso that rotation of sprockets 76 on either side of shuttle car 19 causesmovement of the entire car fin a direction depending on the direction ofrotation of the sprockets. It will be observed that, because belt 67 hasa flap across its width which is also xed relative to the main bulk,movement of the shuttle car -aso causes belt 67 to pass around pulleys64 and `66 in a direction dependent on the direction of travel of theshuttle car, as seen in FIGURE 14, which depicts movement of the shuttlecar toward the right of the iigu-re.

In the operation of the apparatus of the invention loading elevator 14and conveyor 17 carry to the middle of main bulk 18 a supply of striptobacco at a constant rate. Shuttle car 19, which has a length exactlyone-half the length of the main bulk which it feeds, is positioned underconveyor 17, the discharge end of which is `at the midpoint of thelength of bulk 118. It will be seen that when the shuttle car 19 hasreached the position shown in FIGURE 1 (i.e., at its extreme right endextension), belt `67 on the shuttle car has been loaded with tobaccodischarging from conveyor 17. At this point the direction of travel ofcar 19 is reversed by reversing the rotation of sprockets 76, so that itbegins to move at .a uniform rate to the left. Because of the iixedposition of flap 168 of belt 67, movement of the shuttle car to the leftcauses the belt 67 to travel downwardly over the left-hand pulley 64 ofthe shuttle car and to drop the tobacco loaded thereon at a uniformrate. When the extreme left-hand position of the car is reached, belt 67has again been loaded with tobacco which wil be dropped on the righthalf of the bulk when the shuttle car reverses Iits direction. It willbe seen, therefore, that passage of the shuttle car from its extremeright position to its extreme left position causes depositio-n oftobacco in the left half of the main bulk, rwhile passage from left toright causes deposition of tobacco in the right half of the bulk. Inorder to avoid a depression in the midpoint of the bulk, shuttle car 19is provided with inclined baiiies 78 and 79 (FIGURE 12) which slightlydeflect the tobacco discharged by belt 67 in adirection opposite to thatin which the shuttle car is moving.

The springs 71 used to iix flap 68 prevent breakage of the belt when theend positions of the shuttle car `are reached and also aid b-aiiies 78and 79 in tending to avoid the formation of a depression in the middleof the main bulk by yielding as the end positions of the car are reachedand thereby avoiding a single deiinite end point.

The side walls and left-hand end of main bulk 18 are covered with asuitable sheet material, such as plywood, for containing the tobaccodeposited therein. The righthand wall of the main bulk is provided by anextendable curtain 81, suitably made of multiple belting material, whichis rolled around a shaft 82, which is connected through sprocket 83 anddrive chain `84 to motor I85 for creating tension in the curtain |asdesired (FIGURE 2). During the loading, the main bulk curtain 81 isextended to a position directly below shaft 82 and fastened toappropriately placed connecting points on the conveyor 21. Suitableattachment means are shown in FIGURE 9 comprising plates `86 set intosuitable openings in slats 41 at intervals along the length of the mainbulk conveyor 21. Plates 86 contain suitable openings into which therecan be inserted clips 87 which are actuated by moving rod 88 which isheld in tube 89 attached to the lower edge of the curtain 81.

Curtain r81 is ten-sioned by mea-ns of motor 85 and provides a temporarywall for supporting the mass of tobacco which is built up within themain bulk.

After the main bulk has been charged with the entire batch of tobaccolin uni-form, horizontal layers, as described above, curtain181 isdisengaged from its points of attachment to conveyor 21 and withdrawn,leaving the end yface of the tobacco exposed. At this time conveyor 21and doffers 30 are energized, thereby causing the exposed face of thetobacco to be fed into the doifers which rotate at speeds suitably inthe range of 20-25 rpm. As the mass of tobacco is fed into the doifersthe rotating fingers thereof dislodge vertical sections from the exposedface of the tobacco mass, kicking the individual tobacco leaves out andaway from the face of the tobacco mass. The dislodged leaves then fallto a position at the foot of t-he doifers onto `discharge conveyor 91which obtains .its power, as shown, from motor 92. The tobacco fallingon conveyor 91 is carried by it to another conveyor 93 leading to thecutting machinery used `for shredding the strip tobacco for use incigarettes. Kickback dotfer 94, also driven by motor 92, is used tomaintain a constant disch-arge rate from conveyor 91 onto conveyor 93.

It will be seen that the uniform, vertical sections dislodged from themain mass of tobacco contain all of the tobaccos desired in the blend,e-ach of which is present in its proper proportion. In passing throughthe `dolers and falling to conveyor 91 the tobacco experiences furthermixing which is also added to by the mixing `action of kickback :dolfer94 and conveyor 91 acting on the pile of tobacco which |accumulates atthe bottom -of the conveyor. The tobacco picked up and discharged byconveyor v91 consequently constitutes the desired blend in the rightproportions, Which blend has been achieved with a minimum production ofundesirable fines and shreds.

As the mass of tobacco is fed by means of conveyor 21 into dischargedoffers 30, it will be seen that the opposite end of the mass of tobaccowill move away from the end wall of main bulk 18 and thus beunsupported. This is of little consequence during most of the travel ofthe mass of tobacco since the weight of the tobacco itself tends tomaintain the multi-layered arrangement of the mass without disturbance.When, however, the mass of tobacco has been reduced to -a length on theorder of 10 or l2 ft. (assuming a mass about -6 ft. high), a point isreached where the height is a relatively large proportion of theremaining length so that the multilayered arrangement of the tobaccomass is apt to be disturbed by the force applied by the dofers againstthe advancing face of the tobacco mass. It has, therefore, been foundadvisable at this point to provide some support for preventing thecollapse of the trailing face of the tobacco mass as it approachescloser and closer to the rotating doffers. This is convenientlyaccomplished by means of the same extendable curtain 81 which was usedoriginally to support the forward face of the tobacco mass. The curtainis extended to the position shown in FIGURE 2, passing beyond thetrailing face of the tobacco mass and is attached as previouslydescribed to the main conveyor belt 21. Motor 85 is then used to tensioncurtain `81 thereby supporting the trailing face of the tobacco massagainst co1- lapse `as it is fed into the doffers.

It will be seen from the arrangement of the equipment in FIGURE Z thatthe tensioning of curtain 81 would have a tendency to force the upperportion of the tobacco mass into the doffers at a relatively high rateas the curtain tends to straighten out under the tensioning force ofmotor 85. Because of the weight of the tobacco, however, and therelatively small amount of tensioning force required to support thetrailing face of the tobacco mass, this tendency does not result in anyserious problem until the `advancing curtain is almost adjacent therotating doifers. In order to minimize the uneven feeding of tobaccointo the doffers when this point is reached, there is provided a curtainbar assembly indicated generally at 10I1 '(FIGURE 2). This assemblycomprises a transverse bar 102 which is supported in a suitableframework and is extendable a short horizontal distance (for example,labout 20 inches) by operation of the handle 104 from its horizontalposition, indicated by broken lines, to the vertical position. While themain bulk 18 is being loaded with tobacco the handle 104 is in thehorizontal position in which the transverse bar is retracted to theright a sufficient distance to permit the curtain to be attached toconveyor 21 at a point directly beneath shaft 82. As the end of theoperation is approached, however, and curtain v81 is extended to supportthe trailing face of the advancing tobacco mass, handle 104 is raised toits ver-tical position, thus extending transverse rod 102 to a point tothe left of its former position. As the tobacco Iadvances into therotating doifers, curtain 81 'will eventually strike transverse rod 102and thus be restrained from toppling the thin remaining mass of tobaccoover into the doffers and thus upsetting the normal functioning of theapparatus.

It is, of course, possible to operate the apparatus of the invention in-single units. Since, however, there will obviously be a break in theproduction schedule while the main bulk is being reloaded with tobaccoin preparation for the succeeding run, it will be more convenient to usethe apparatus in pairs, loading one while the other is feeding tobaccoto the manufacturing process.

it is yalso possible to use two or more individual units of the-apparatus of the invention feeding simultaneously. In such cases itwill generally be found desirable to synchronize the drive motors usedto advance the main bulk conveyor and -actuate the other operatinglparts of the elquipment by methods `which are known to those sk-illedin t e art.

The foregoing detailed description has been Igiven for clea-rness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modiiications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for uniformly admixing a plurality of strip tobaccos ofdifferent types and grades comprising bin means `for receiving yandholding an elongated mass of loose tobacco, movable conveyor means insaid bin means for supporting and conveying said mass to one end of saidbin, dislodging means at said one end of said bin arranged in la planetransverse the movement of said conveyor means and substantiallyvertical thereto for dislodging relatively thin vertical sections fromsaid mass, a pliable curtain having one portion covering a substantiallyentire cross section of said bin means arranged in a plane substantiallyparallel to said lrst described plane and spaced therefrom said curtainhaving tensioning means extending over said mass in coveringrelationship thereto frorn said one portion substantially to said firstplane, and removable coupling means coupling one end of said curtain tosaid conveyor means whereby said curtain moves -with said cmveyor meansto maintain said mass of tobacco therea ong.

2. A device substantially as set forth in claim l and Ifurthercharacterized by said tensioning means engaging the end of said curtainopposite said first described one end and having means to maintain apredetermined tension on said curtain.

3. Apparatus for conveying, mixing and delivering strip tobaccos crosssectionally from a bulk mass of loose strip tobaccos comprising aconveyor for supporting said mass and feeding it in one direction,plural feed mea-ns positioned in a substantially vertical planetransverse the direction of feed of said mass by said conveyor todislodge portions of said mass along said vertical plane and a pliablecurtain secured at its one end to said conveyor and being anchored atits `other end distant from said conveyor and extending over said -rnassin covering relationship thereto to position said curtain in a planesubmeans.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS MullervOct. 1'1, 1927 Semenov May 8, 192,8 10

l8 lHeidelberg Feb. 20, 1940 Rundell June 26, 1945 Benning et al Feb. 5,1957 Benning et a1 Oct. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 3,1957 France Nov. 3, 1958 Great Britain July 20, 1960 Great Britain Aug.31, 1960

1. APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY ADMIXING A PLURALITY OF STRIP TOBACCOS OFDIFFERENT TYPES AND GRADES COMPRISING BIN MEANS FOR RECEIVING ANDHOLDING AN ELONGATED MASS OF LOOSE TOBACCO, MOVABLE CONVEYOR MEANS INSAID BIN MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND CONVEYING SAID MASS TO ONE END OF SAIDBIN, DISLODGING MEANS AT SAID ONE END OF SAID BIN ARRANGED IN A PLANETRANSVERSE THE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND SUBSTANTIALLYVERTICAL THERETO FOR DISLODGING RELATIVELY THIN VERTICAL SECTIONS FROMSAID MASS, A PLIABLE CURTAIN HAVING ONE PORTION COVERING A SUBSTANTIALLYENTIRE